Domestic Appliance Communication Unit for Power Load Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances often exceed maximum permissible power consumption when operated simultaneously, leading to load peaks that can overload electrical supply networks, as existing systems only reduce power consumption after exceeding limits, rather than proactively managing timing and distribution.
Innovation Solution
A household appliance system with a control device that communicates with other appliances via a communication bus to coordinate the timing of high-power consumer operations, allowing for the postponement or advancement of start times and distribution of power consumption to avoid exceeding predetermined limits and prevent peak loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If household appliances operate simultaneously without coordination, then each appliance can perform its function independently and efficiently, but the total power consumption exceeds maximum permissible limits and generates load peaks that overload the electrical supply network
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary actions by determining the power consumption of the electrical consumer before it is switched on, comparing this with the remaining admissible power, and only then deciding whether to switch on the consumer. This prevents power limit exceedances before they occur, rather than reacting after limits are breached.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation of electrical consumers based on real-time power consumption conditions. The control device continuously monitors total power consumption and adaptively decides whether to switch consumers on or off, creating a dynamic power management system that responds to changing load conditions.
2Ease of operation
If household appliances reduce power consumption only after exceeding predetermined limits, then individual appliance operation is simple and independent, but peak loads still occur that can overload the electrical supply network
Solution Approach 1:
The control device receives feedback about the total power consumption of all household appliances and uses this information to make informed decisions about switching electrical consumers on or off. This feedback mechanism ensures that power consumption remains within admissible limits while maintaining automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary between the electrical consumer and the power supply network. It mediates the power consumption by determining whether to allow the consumer to switch on based on current power conditions, thus protecting the electrical supply network from overload while enabling appliance operation.
3Power
If multiple high-performance consumers are operated simultaneously in different household appliances, then each appliance delivers maximum performance, but load peaks are generated that overload the electrical supply network
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary determination of power consumption for each electrical consumer before switching it on, and compares this with the remaining admissible power in the household. This preliminary check prevents simultaneous operation of multiple high-performance consumers that would generate harmful load peaks.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device serves as an intermediary that regulates the switching on of electrical consumers based on total power consumption conditions. It prevents harmful load peaks by controlling which consumers can operate simultaneously, thus protecting the electrical supply network while allowing high-performance operation when power capacity is available.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2d
AI summary
The aim of the invention is to provide a solution for properly operating a plurality of domestic appliances (2, 3, 4) in a household without overloading a power supply system. A domestic appliance (2, 3, 4) having an internal electrical consumer (8, 10, 13, 15) and a control unit (5, 6, 7) is provided with a communication unit (11, 14, 16) via which the control unit (5, 6, 7) transmits data to other domestic appliances (2, 3, 4) and/or receives data from other domestic appliances (2, 3, 4). For transmission, the control unit (5, 6, 7) transmits such data via the communication unit (11, 14, 16) which comprise information on a time of an imminent start-up of the internal consumer (8, 10, 13, 15). For reception, the control unit (5, 6, 7) extracts information on the time of an imminent start-up of an electrical consumer (8, 10, 13, 15) of another domestic appliance (2, 3, 4) from the received data and controls the internal consumer (8, 10, 13, 15) taking said information into consideration.